Brown seeking luck after Stradbroke barrier blow

By Jordan Gerrans and Andrew Smith

The barrier draw didn’t go the way of multiple Group 1-winning trainer Cliff Brown on Tuesday, so he is looking for a slice of luck come Saturday afternoon at Eagle Farm.

The Victorian conditioner could not have fared much worse when the barriers were revealed on Tuesday morning for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

Brown enters the race with two Stradbroke hopefuls - Von Hauke and Sepals.

Von Hauke was handed the 19 gate while Sepals copped 21.

While Brown’s runners will come in slightly once the emergencies are removed, it will still be a tough ask for the Mornington mentor and his pair.

Brown, who spent a long time training in Singapore, was honest in his assessment of his sprinter’s chances following the tricky barrier draw.

“I think, statistically, I think it makes it very difficult to win the race, listening to where the past winners have come from,” Brown said.

“So, both horses now get back in the race from the draw, which I think makes it very, very difficult.

“I don't think Von Hauke is a $51 chance, he is going better than that, but he probably is now after the draw.

“I sound terribly pessimistic, but it's just so difficult from those gates.

“It really is. I think it's a terribly difficult race. I am harping on it, but the gates are just terrible.”

Despite Brown’s feelings following the barrier draw, double digit barrier starters have a great record in recent Stradbroke Handicaps.

War Machine jumped from 12 last year, Stefi Magnetica won from 15 the year prior, while Alligator Blood (17) and Tofane (10) also faced wide assignments.

Von Hauke and Sepals both come through the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup last month.

Von Hauke and Sepals didn’t really figure prominently in the 1300 metre contest, but Von Hauke was able to finish just under three lengths behind the winner Headley Grange.

The Stradbroke runners were able to work on the Eagle Farm course proper on Tuesday morning.

Von Hauke tasted Group 2 success in Victoria in late October before claiming the Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo in early May.

“He's had a great prep,” Brown said of Von Hauke.

“I thought his gallop on Tuesday morning was very good.

“Von Hauke drops six kilograms from his run in the Kingsford Smith to the Stradbroke. I think he's in really good order.”

Like he will need to do in the Stradbroke, Sepals also jumped from a wide alley in the Kingsford Smith.

The Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes champion from last year is the more fancied of Brown's two runners in the Stradbroke and is judged as a $34 chance as of Thursday morning.

“The other day, you just have to forgive his run,” Brown said of Sepals’ effort in the Kingsford Smith.

“He drew the same barrier and he's going to do it again.

“So, it'll be another disaster, I suppose. This time, we'll just ride him quiet.

“There's no point trying to find a spot, because it probably won't work out. So, we'll just ride them both quiet and see what happens.

“We haven't had many runners in the Stradbroke over the years; we probably had one a long time ago that ran fourth.”

Von Hauke will be ridden by Harry Coffey on Saturday while Sepals has the booking of two-time Stradbroke champion Tim Clark.

The Brown stable will also start Wealdstone in the Brisbane Cup over 3200 metres on Saturday with Luke Cartwright set to steer the stayer around.

Wealdstone comes via the Group 3 Premier’s Cup, where he finished ninth last month.

“He was okay the other day,” Brown said.

“He probably blew out, which was my fault. And, he worked okay on Tuesday morning, but he's got to improve a bit, too.”